MEN OF THE TREES 



Kenya, where thousands of Europeans have settled, but 

 it generally takes place far away in a secluded village out 

 of sight, if not out of hearing, of the white man. At the 

 beginning of the season this dance starts in a small way 

 in one of the Kikuyu villages, and on the first night there 

 may not be more than fifteen or twenty couples taking 

 part; but after the performance, notice is given of the 

 next meetings, with the result that the number of the 

 attendance may be doubled. As the M'goiyu progresses 

 from village to village, the company of dancers contin- 

 ues to increase. This accession of dancers was the method 

 of the Morris dancers so well known in olden time in 

 England. Whereas most of the dances are for men only 

 or women only, the M'goiyu is a mixed dance, and early 

 in the evening, often before dark, one may see arriving, 

 parties of shy maidens who, if it so happens that they 

 have no male escort, squat in groups at a distance from 

 the village. Here they anxiously await the arrival of their 

 partners, who may be coming from an opposite di- 

 rection. 



The men make elaborate preparations for the dance, 

 smearing their bodies with a mixture of animal fat or 

 oil and red earth, and decking themselves out in fan- 

 tastic designs, which give them the appearance of being 

 tattooed. As a distinguishing mark, the older Morans, 

 or fighting men, wear ostrich feathers on their heads. 

 This is a warrior's emblem of which they are naturally 

 very proud. A narrow beaded strap is tied tightly below 



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